Hue & Hội An
Experiences of Cultural Heritage under UNESCO Designation
Globalization and westernization have spread capitalist market systems and consumerist values, leading to the widespread commodification of experiences, places, and cultural goods.
While many aspects of life adapt easily to global markets, culture—particularly intangible traditions and historically rooted identities—is often stripped of context and meaning when repackaged for mass consumption, especially in tourism.
This tension is most evident in cultural heritage tourism, where nations must balance the economic benefits of global visitation with the need to preserve the authenticity, integrity, and sustainability of their cultural sites.
About
Among Vietnam’s urban WHS, two sites—Huế and Hội An—were chosen for focused analysis due to their contrasting urban forms, historical backgrounds, and stages of tourism development. Huế, the former imperial capital, spatially planned and steeped in royal symbolism, and Hội An, a port town shaped by multicultural trade. These differing conditions offered an opportunity to explore how heritage can function as both a cultural and economic asset under pressures of globalization and tourism.
Projects
This research trip and subsequent thesis document were conducted in order to gain a better understanding of the experience that is offered by UNESCO World Heritage Sites to the people who engage with them. From the tourists who visit because of their formal heritage designation to the long-time residents who live in close proximity to these sites.
